Girl Scout Troop 5191 of the Crescenta Valley/Glendale Service Unit earned their Bronze Award after completing an outdoor tortoise enclosure for Teranga Ranch, a non-profit organization located in Sunland that specializes in reptile rescue and wildlife education.

Dana Stangel, executive director of Teranga Ranch said, “We were so grateful the Girl Scouts were able to come over and help our animal rescue. We were in desperate need of an outdoor area for our rescued tortoises to get sun. The Girl Scouts called and offered their help.”

According to Stangel, the girls designed the enclosure, acquired the materials necessary for building, motivated their families to join them, worked as a team, and helped with enthusiasm and concern for the animals.

“This was a well thought-out project, and the girls worked very hard all day.”

She added that once the Nature Center is opened, programs will be designed specifically to help Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts earn their badges.

The girls spent six hours building the enclosure, during which they learned about woodworking, carpentry and safety around power tools. The girls also conducted their own research in order to determine what type of enclosure would best suit the tortoises and keep them safe from predators. Funds to purchase the materials for the enclosure were earned exclusively through the sale of Girl Scout cookies.

Submitted by Carolyn DARIN